Exporting a MySQL database

You can export a MySQL database to a file by using phpMyAdmin or the mysqldump command line program.

Method #1: Use phpMyAdmin

You can export a MySQL database using the phpMyAdmin web interface. To do this, follow these steps:

Log in to cPanel.

If you do not know how to log in to your cPanel account, please see this article.

In the DATABASES section of the cPanel home screen, click phpMyAdmin.

In the left pane of the phpMyAdmin page, click the database that you want to export.

Click the Export tab.

Under Export method, confirm that Quick is selected.

If you are using an older version of phpMyAdmin that does not have the Quick option, follow these steps instead:

In the Export section, click Select All.

Select the Save as file checkbox, and then click Go. The export process runs.

Under Format, confirm that SQL is selected.

Click Go.

In the Save File dialog box, type the filename and select the directory where you want to save the exported database on your local computer.

Click Save. The export process runs.

Method #2: Use the mysqldump program

You can export a MySQL database from the command line using the mysqldump program. To do this, follow these steps:

Access the command line on the computer where the database is stored. For example, if the database is on another web hosting account or with another web hosting provider, log in to the account using SSH. If you have physical access to the computer, you can open a DOS or terminal window to access the command line.

Type the following command, and then press Enter. Replace username with your username, and dbname with the name of the database that you want to export:

mysqldump -u username -p dbname > dbexport.sql

This example uses the dbexport.sql filename for the exported database, but you can name the file whatever you want.

Type your password at the Enter password prompt.

The dbexport.sql file now contains all of the data for the dbname database. If the dbexport.sql file is on a remote computer, download the file to your local computer.

Creating a new MySQL database and assigning a user

Before you can import the database, you must create a new database in cPanel and assign a user to it. To do this, follow these steps:

Log in to cPanel.

If you do not know how to log in to your cPanel account, please see this article.

In the DATABASES section of the cPanel home screen, click MySQL® Databases.

Under Create New Database, type the name of the database in the New Database text box.

Click Create Database.

When the database is created, click Go Back.

Under Add User to Database, select the user that you want to add in the User list box.

In the Database list box, select the new database.

Click Add.

Click the check boxes to grant the user specific privileges, or click the ALL PRIVILEGES check box to grant the user all permissions to the database.

Click Make Changes.

Importing a MySQL database

After you have created a new database in cPanel, you can import the database's contents by using phpMyAdmin or the mysql command line program.

If the exported database file contains any CREATE DATABASE statements, you must remove them or comment them out. Otherwise, the import process will fail.

Method #1: Use phpMyAdmin

You can import a MySQL database using the phpMyAdmin web interface. To do this, follow these steps:

Log in to cPanel.

If you do not know how to log in to your cPanel account, please see this article.

In the DATABASES section of the cPanel home screen, click phpMyAdmin.

In the left pane of the phpMyAdmin page, click the database that you want to import the data into.

Click the Import tab.

Under File to Import, click Browse, and then select the dbexport.sql file on your local computer.

Click Go. The import process runs.

The database should now contain the data that is in the dbexport.sql file.

Method #2: Use the mysql program

You can import a MySQL database from the command line using the mysql program. To do this, follow these steps:

Change to the directory where you uploaded the dbexport.sql file. For example, if you uploaded the dbexport.sql file to your home directory, type cd ~.

Type the following command, and then press Enter. Replace username with your username and dbname with the name of the database that you want to import the data into:

mysql -u username -p dbname < dbexport.sql

The dbname database should now contain the data that is in the dbexport.sql file.

Troubleshooting the database import

You may receive one of the following error messages when you try to import a MySQL database using either cPanel or the mysql program:

ERROR 1044: Access denied for user 'username1'@'localhost' to database 'username2_database'
This error message occurs when the import file contains an SQL statement that attempts to access a database for the wrong username. Note in this example that username2 in username2_database does not match username1 in 'username1'@'localhost'. You must edit the import file and change username2 to your new username1.

ERROR 1049: Unknown database 'username_database'
This error message occurs when the target database does not exist. Make sure you create the database first as described above, and then try to it import again.

ERROR 1064: You have an error in your SQL syntax; check the manual that corresponds to your MySQL server version for the right syntax to use near 'username_database' at line x.
This error message occurs when the import file does not contain backup data for a database or there is a MySQL syntax error in the file. Alternatively, the import file may be altered, corrupt, or in an unsupported format. (Import files must contain SQL statements; other file formats such as CSV do not work with the mysql program.) Try exporting the database again, and then try to import it.

We use cookies to personalize the website for you and to analyze the use of our website. You consent to this by clicking on "I consent" or by continuing your use of this website. Further information about cookies can be found in our Privacy Policy.